In your opinion, should religious doctrine trump sound medical advice?

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Health Medical

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Instructions: Working in the health industry, one will be faced with certain ethical dilemmas, some of which could directly impact whether a patient lives or dies. Below is a fictitious ethical dilemma that someone working in the hospital might face. Read the case study (you may use articles provided for background information) then answer the questions that follow the study. While answering the questions, write a well-developed argument justifying your response.

You are the chief executive officer (CEO) of a hospital. The physicians are faced with an ethical dilemma and are unsure how to proceed. There is a twelve year old girl that has been diagnosed with an operable brain tumor. Her prognosis is positive, provided she has the operation. The girl has stated that she wants to have the life preserving operation. However, her parents are devout Jehovah Witnesses and have vowed to refuse to allow the child to have the operation due to the need for blood transfusion. There is a part of their religious doctrine that states that blood must not be transfused. The medical team is baffled and has sought your guidance on how they should proceed. Below are some questions you could consider as you develop your response.

  • In your opinion, should religious doctrine trump sound medical advice?
  • Is the girl old enough to make the decision for herself?
  • Should the intervention of the Division of Social Services or the court system be solicited?
  • In your opinion, in your role as the CEO what are the pros and cons of both sides of the argument?
  • What role does ethics play in governing the decision making?

Below are some articles that may provide some background information. However, you do NOT have to limit yourself to only these articles.

Articles: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/325240003/parents-under-fire-failing- allow-lifesaving-blood-transfusion-terminally-ill-son?size=10&page=1 (Links para um site externo)Links para um site externo

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3934270/ (Links para um site externo)Links para um site externo

http://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/2003/08/ccas1-0308.html (Links para um site externo)Links para um site externo

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/06/jehovah_s_witness_blood_transfusions_how_a_doctor_works_around_doctrine.html (Links para um site externo)Links para um site externo

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2015/05/jehovahs-witness-parents-refuse-life-saving-treatment-for-son/ (Links para um site externo)Links para um site externo

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Explanation & Answer

Attached.

Running Head: ETHICAL DILEMMA

1

Ethical Dilemma
Name of Student
Course/Number
Due Date
Faculty Name

2
ETHICAL DILEMMA
ETHICAL DILEMMA
Since time immemorial, in the whole world, the religious doctrine and medical fraternity
have had violent confrontations and debates especially when life requires crucial and critical
attention. And perhaps the most interesting fact is that the medical staffs has no authority
whatsoever of failing to adhere to the patient's wishes, respect their faiths and follow what
they believe in even if the situation is of life and death. This is part of what medics study and
swears to uphold towards achieving better healthcare. And even if the physicians and nurses
are taught to do otherwise to safeguard the patient's life, which is the ultimate goal after all.
They should be fully aware and be ready to suffer tough and psychological torture in trying to
solve many ethical dilemmas that come their way as a result of implications for different
religious faiths and beliefs.
In efforts to advance in medicine and improve better healthcare provision to patients all over
the world, doctors, for example, are advised to allow for abortions if the mother is in danger
or if by allowing the mother to carry the baby to full term and allowing the process of
childbirth. It would directly or indirectly endanger the life of the mother or both. However, up
to date, this has continued to face fierce criticism from the religious fraternity. They argue
that life is precious and only God-given. And as such, no one has permission to terminate life
consciously. As much as this argument sounds sane and very true, it is full of prejudice and
bias. This is because in such a situation, we already have an existing life (the mother) and we
cannot purport to save the life of the incoming one by putting the existing one in danger. And
in fact, without proper med...


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